[chickenpotpie]

> If they're going to lock or delete an account (regardless of reason), there should be a requirement that funds are either paid to the benefactor or refunded immediately.

Gofundme partially locked the funds because they don’t know who the benefactor is anymore (according to their official statement). Who gets the money? Does it just go to every person in the city with a semi truck or is it just going to some random person that we hope won’t take the money and run?

As for refunds, I would be willing to bet anyone that donated could go ask gofundme for a refund right now and get their money back. Sure they could mass refund everyone right away, but it seems like a bad policy to do a mass refund whenever the benefactor becomes unclear. It would be incredibly annoying to fund a huge project and the point of contact for the project quits and for all the funding to instantly get refunded.

[beerandt]

I suspect it's a case of "show me the person and I'll show you the TOS violation", or whatever other reason that can be used to shut down donations as the cause goes viral and peaks.

It's a problem that is suspiciously one-sided, at least as far as 404ing/disabling the linked page, locking the account, and pausing donations while being resolved.

[MatteoFrigo]

I have posted an update on how the benefactor will be clarified elsewhere in this thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30192727#30200174